By Faith: Confidence Beyond What You Can See

What if the greatest things God wants to do in your life begin with something you can't see?

As we kicked off our new series, By Faith, we turned to Hebrews 11—often called the "Hall of Faith." This chapter isn't a collection of spiritual superheroes. It's filled with ordinary people who trusted an extraordinary God. They weren't remembered because of their own strength or abilities, but because they chose to live by faith.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that faith is more than wishful thinking. It's "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Faith is believing that God is real, trusting that He always keeps His promises, and knowing that seeking Him is always worth it.

Our faith is like an antenna. Just as radio waves are all around us even though we can't see them, God's presence and promises are real even when they're invisible to our eyes. Faith is what allows us to tune into the spiritual realities that God has made available to us. As we spend time in God's Word, hear His voice, and walk with Him, our faith begins to grow.

The writer of Hebrews also reminds us that faith isn't measured by whether we immediately see results. Some heroes of the faith witnessed incredible miracles, while others never saw God's promises fulfilled during their lifetime. Yet they were all commended because they continued trusting God regardless of the outcome. Genuine faith says, "God, whether You answer the way I expect or not, I will continue to trust You."

The message also highlighted the difference between Abel and Cain. Both brought offerings to God, but Abel's offering was accepted because it was given in faith. Cain's offering reflected dependence on his own efforts rather than trust in God's provision. Their story reminds us that God isn't looking for religious performance—He's looking for hearts that fully trust Him.

Enoch was man who faithfully walked with God in a generation that had turned away from Him. His life demonstrates that faith calls us to live differently, to remain faithful even when the culture around us isn't, and to boldly point others toward God.

Most importantly, we were reminded that salvation has never been earned through good works or religious activity. We are saved by grace through faith. Christianity isn't about trying harder to earn God's approval—it's about trusting what Jesus has already accomplished on our behalf. Through faith, we receive forgiveness, a new identity, and the promise of eternal life.

As we begin this journey through Hebrews 11, our prayer is simple: "Lord, increase our faith." We want to become ordinary people who experience extraordinary things because we have learned to trust an extraordinary God. Whether we're believing for healing, restoration, salvation for loved ones, or strength for today's challenges, we choose to walk by faith—not by sight—confident that God is faithful to every promise He has made.